Purbach Georg von

Born about 40 km west of Linz. He studied at the University of Vienna (where he defended his master's thesis), traveled to Germany and Italy. He studied astronomy and astrology in Rome, Ferrara, Bologna, Padua, he studied under Nicholas of Cusa. From 1450 g. - Professor of Mathematics and Astronomy, University of Vienna. Purbach has lectured both in astronomy and mathematics, as well as on humanitarian subjects. Approximately 1453 g. He was appointed court astrologer of the King of Bohemia and Hungary Ladislaus (Laslo V). Then (apparently after the death of Ladislaus in 1457) Purbach became the court astrologer of Holy Roman Emperor Frederick III in Vienna.

Purbach - teacher of the famous Regiomontanus, with him working on translations of Ptolemy. Among his own works - the most popular textbook "New Planetary Theory" ( "Theoricae novae planetarum"), issued in 1472, Mr.. Regiomontanom. In this work Purbach first in Western Europe, outlined the Ptolemaic theory of epicycles. Prior to 1653, Mr.. happened more than 60 editions of this book. It is interesting astrological treatise Purbaha "Iudici-um super cometa qui anno Domini 1456to per totum fere mensem Iunii apparuit", dedicated to Halley's comet. Among the influences that Purbach attributed to a comet - drought, plague and war, particularly in Greece, Dalmatia, Italy and Spain, where the comet will reach its zenith, as well as certain difficulties for those people who have a natal Ascendant in Taurus.. In 1456 - 1461 he. with Regiomontanom Purbach performed many astronomical observations, during which it was observed that the popular astrological "Alfonsinskie table gives an error of a few degrees. Thus, his work Purbach put on the agenda the question of accuracy of astrological calculations.